Aguilera Botches Our National Anthem

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the performance of Christina Aguilera during the national anthem at the Super Bowl, focusing on the implications of her rendition, the nature of the anthem itself, and broader sentiments about national pride and musical interpretation.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express disappointment in Aguilera's performance, arguing that her embellishments detracted from the anthem's meaning and purpose.
  • One participant suggests that pre-recording the anthem and lip-syncing could prevent mistakes, although they acknowledge potential awkwardness in execution.
  • Another participant prefers "America, the Beautiful" over "The Star-Spangled Banner," viewing the latter as an indirect representation of national identity.
  • Some participants compare Aguilera's performance unfavorably to past renditions, such as Roseanne Barr's, indicating a perceived decline in quality.
  • There are opinions that the anthem should be sung simply, without excessive embellishment, as it was originally a pub song.
  • One participant highlights the pressure performers face when singing the anthem in front of large audiences, suggesting it may contribute to mistakes.
  • Discussion includes references to the anthem's historical context, including its origins as a British drinking song and its evolution as a national symbol.
  • Some participants express a desire for a return to original lyrics or alternative anthems, citing various national anthems as comparisons.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally express disagreement regarding the quality and appropriateness of Aguilera's performance, with no consensus on the best approach to singing the national anthem or its suitability as a national symbol.

Contextual Notes

Some comments reflect personal preferences for musical interpretation and performance styles, while others discuss the historical significance and evolution of the anthem, indicating a range of perspectives on its role in national identity.

  • #61
Borek said:
Honestly, I don't see a link between number of deaths and football. Actually I wonder if connecting these things is not abuse of the memory of these people. When the anthem is sang at every occasion it becomes a routine and soon nobody remembers what it is all about.

Admittedly, saying something is worth dying for is a lot different than saying the number of deaths are what make something valuable (otherwise we'd sing drinking songs before every football game).

I think your logic might equally fail, though. Try telling your wife you'll only tell her you love her on Valentine's Day because doing so more often might dilute its meaning.

There's nothing wrong with singing the national anthem often, regardless of which song we happened to choose for the national anthem and regardless of how well the person sings it (provided they make an honest effort at it - the Rosanne Barr performance someone mentioned was just flat out disrepectful).

And Aguilera did apologize for her mistake. While this article only snips one line from her statement, it at least puts into perspective that even a singer that's sung the national anthem many times can screw up: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1657367/christina-aguilera-super-bowl.jhtml
 
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  • #62
BobG said:
I think your logic might equally fail, though. Try telling your wife you'll only tell her you love her on Valentine's Day because doing so more often might dilute its meaning.

You are pointing out the other extreme - and both are IMHO equally wrong. There must be some reasonable point in between.
 
  • #63
leroyjenkens said:
I don't see why a national anthem is needed for a football game. It's not like the honor of the nation is at stake. It's just two teams, both from America, playing with a ball.
I don't see why it's played/sung either. It doesn't make sense to me. It's a game. Seems a bit insulting to choose a game with people swilling beer and eating bad nachos and wearing odd foam things as a time to play the National Anthem.

I really don't get it.
 
  • #64
By the way, assuming she did realize she botched the lyrics as soon as she sung them, what would have been the proper response. Stop singing, tell the person playing the music to stop, then start the entire song over? Recover as best she could and go ahead and finish the song?

I don't think one can assume she didn't realize she botched the lyrics just because she kept on singing.
 
  • #65
  • #66
BobG said:
By the way, assuming she did realize she botched the lyrics as soon as she sung them, what would have been the proper response. Stop singing, tell the person playing the music to stop, then start the entire song over? Recover as best she could and go ahead and finish the song?

I don't think one can assume she didn't realize she botched the lyrics just because she kept on singing.
You can normally see the look on a singer's face when they notice they goofed up, usually it also causes them to stutter at the point of realization. She exhibited no signs that she realized her mistake. She seemed totally oblivious.

I don't blame her for messing up the lyrics, I blame her for singing it so crappily.
 
  • #67
Evo said:
I don't see why it's played/sung either. It doesn't make sense to me. It's a game. Seems a bit insulting to choose a game with people swilling beer and eating bad nachos and wearing odd foam things as a time to play the National Anthem.

I really don't get it.

So, from your own post, do you hold a nation's anthem to be sacrosanct? Or do you revet it's rendition to CH?

Evo said:
I don't blame her for messing up the lyrics...

I sang our National Anthem at a Virginia Tech Basketball game in the 1980s. I spent perhaps 20 minutes ensuring I knew the words, and nervous as I was, it went off without a hitch, so YES, I DO blame her for messing up the lyrics! Each and every one of us could retire on less than half of what she "earned" while botching our national anthem.

I blame her for singing it so crappily.

Amen.
 
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  • #68
mugaliens said:
So, from your own post, do you hold a nation's anthem to be sacrosanct?
I just don't really care for it as music. I think it's fine for military events and 4th of July celebrations. I don't see a need for it to be a sports event song.

Or do you revet it's rendition to CH?
I don't understand what you're saying here.
 
  • #69
Evo said:
I really don't get it.

Study history. Learn how many folks have given their lives over the last 235 years to secure and protect the freedoms you enjoy today.

If you still "don't http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_United_States" ," might I suggest you move to another country whose populace shares your "don't get it" beliefs?
 
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